Monday, January 19, 2009

Day of Service Update

I, of course, do not have pictures yet of what I have done today - because the camera cord is upstairs, and if I go up there I will get sidetracked by the kitchen or the laundry or something like that. Not that I am admitting that I do laundry - its just that I would see it, (maybe have to climb over it), and it would probably depress me.
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So .... instead I will tell you what we have been up to. I have a little guy at home with me today, so we have ironed a LOT of strips of fabric for our strip twist that we will ALL work on tonite.
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We have quilted one Quilt of Valor, and are currently loading another one. Of course it may not get finished today - I still have to get 2 other children, go to play practice, and do chores. I think it might be my turn * bummer *



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But in reading thru my own blog last nite, I realized that I did not share enough photos with you of soldiers recieving there quilts. I want you all to know, as I do, how appreciated they are, and how they can totally make one persons day, month, even his/her whole life. Just to know that someone wants to offer them comfort as they struggle to recuperate. And to sometimes adjust to life in a way they never expected to have to adjust to.
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So let me tell you what I know! I know that the soldier in the top left picture recieveing his quilt from one of the high schoolers can not tolerate light without migraines. I know that he is trying to figure out how he will see with limited vision, and a super sensitivity.
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I know that the soldier on the right, recieveing his quilt has a Tramautic Brain Injury, and his memory will never be the same. I know that the 5th grader giving him his quilt, made that quilt on his own with his mom, to present to a soldier. I know that his mom is just as busy as the rest of us, if not more so. She has 4 boys ( I can learn so much from her!) Yet the two of them gave their time. I know that by meeting this soldier, R had a whole new perspective on WHY he wanted to make a quilt.
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I know that the picture with the group of students totally made those two soldiers' day. I know that they had struggled with Physical Therapy, they had already been to 2 doctors, and I know that they were tickled pick ( notice her shirt) that people took time out of their days, and busy lives to think of others.
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I also know that starbucks wants to thank people for there community service, so if you are helping out some way - go enjoy a cup of coffee on them. http://pledge5.starbucks.com
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Let me know what you did today in my comments. And I will throw in a $10 Starbucks card - just for the fun of it - to one deserving person. I will have the kids pick a number out of the number of comments. So leave one telling us what you did by Friday... 7pm... and you will be in the drawing.
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Okay - back to the quilting machine!! Have a great one!

7 comments:

marilyn said...

Alycia, I don't drink coffee, so if the kids pick me, you can enjoy a cup for me. I have been working on a crib bumper pad today for a friend at work. Her husband is in the military and flies the C5's to deliver supplies to the military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. She is due in March and I hope he gets to be home for the birth of their first baby. Sometimes we just don't understand the sacrifices the whole family makes to keep us safe. Thank you for your service to our men and women! And hug those boys for me :)

swooze said...

Hey I am finishing up my QOV to you! I am sending it to Pat Ritchie to be quilted and she is gonna send it on to you.

If I get that done then I am moving onto bordering a few charity quilts.

swooze said...

Hey I am finishing up my QOV to you! I am sending it to Pat Ritchie to be quilted and she is gonna send it on to you.

If I get that done then I am moving onto bordering a few charity quilts.

Lori in South Dakota said...

Today I worked on "Happy Blocks". MANLY Happy Blocks!

Amy said...

Alycia
I am so thankful to have found your site! I was super busy YESTERDAY in advance to tear into a QOV quilt since I had to work today. I put all my other projects aside and set off, bound to finish this one in 10 hours (roughly my "freetime" allotted this week). It came together a little bit at time, and tonight it will find its final border pieces being added to the layout. I hope to actually piece the entire top tonight---I just put the girls to bed (3 of them--7:30 pm) and I will give them some "quiet time" before I allow myself to venture to my basement sewing room.

Thank you VERY much for sharing such touching pictures and more-so the stories that go along with them.

As with marilyn, I am not a Starbucks drinker (no location anywhere near us, plus the coffee is down-right too strong!), so don't worry about throwing me in the pot. Just wanted to fill you in on *my* challenge to help out your cause :0)

-Amy (NW WI)

Anonymous said...

Hi Alycia..You are such an inspiration! I'm in the process of getting the sleeves ready to attach to 2 QOV. They will be hung in our local quilt club show in early Feb in a small section dedicated to educating folks about your project and directing them to the QOV website for information. I have pillowcases that we'll send with them when they're done. PS No coffee drinkers here either so
enjoy it yourself for all you do.

Shari in AZ

jovaliquilts said...

Wow, you've done so much! It's great that you showed some photos with the soldiers, thanks.